In pictures: 30 years of Super Mario

Surprisingly, this sequel wasn’t originally designed as a Mario title. Instead a Japanese prototype of Yume Kojo: Doki Doki Panic (Dream Factory: Heart-Pounding Panic) was given a Mario reworking after the company became worried the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2 would be too difficult for western audiences. In hindsight, it’s picking and throwing mechanics have seen it become the bizarre left-turn of the series, but it still stands tall as an excellent platformer, and helped shape supporting characters like Luigi, Peach and Toad with their own definable attributes.